The smell of coffee and bacon sizzling fills the air at Village Cafe on Washington Street as servers weave between tables, greeting regulars by name. Advertising itself as “your neighborhood food and drink spot,” the cafe has served the Newton community for decades.

“It’s a family establishment,” said longtime customer and former Newton resident Beverly Bonson. “Everyone who works there is related, somehow.”

The welcoming atmosphere is noticeable upon entry. Warm lighting fills the restaurant, and servers greet customers with smiles.

General Manager Aaron Brooks said he has been working at the cafe for over 10 years and feels close to both the owners and the customers.

“It’s like a family here,” Brooks said. “Everyone knows each other. It’s the food quality that keeps people coming back every day of the week.”

The cafe resembles a classic diner and boasts all-day breakfast, something increasingly rare among modern restaurants.

Brooks explained that the welcoming atmosphere, attentive staff and community connection are extremely important to maintaining a successful restaurant in Newton. He believes that keeping the same staff is the key to building community.

“Creating connections is one of the things that I try to emphasize when I train new staff, which I haven’t had to do in a while,” Brooks said. “We keep the same staff. We don’t have a big turnover rate. That’s nice, which just shows what kind of a restaurant we are.”

When he first started working the Village Cafe dinner shift, Brooks said he focused on bringing in more customers. He refused to write down anyone’s orders to help bridge connections.

“They used to call it dinner and a show,” Brooks said. “I had this place full, and they would go crazy, because I would literally take six tables in a row, not write anything down, bring the orders in, make the drinks, bring them back to the table. And they’re like, ‘You’re gonna make a mistake.’ And I go, ‘I’m not gonna make a mistake, because you already forgot what you ordered. If I do make a mistake, you won’t know.’ It’s a sense of humor—it’s building that connection.”

This kind of interaction has helped make Village Cafe a neighborhood staple. The staff not only know customers by name, but also are familiar with facts about their lives.

Village Cafe has a wide variety of options to choose from, ranging from French toast and breakfast sandwiches to paninis and wraps. They have a full bar and a cocktail list, which Brooks highlighted as having breakfast-oriented cocktails.

“I recreated the drink menu to make more breakfast-style cocktails, so it’s more conducive to the business that we have,” Brooks said.

Brooks also emphasized the importance of social media in increasing business. Specifically, influencers often come in to review the menu.

“I’ve seen a lot of new faces over the last couple of weeks,” Brooks said.

Not only is the food prepared quickly, but it is also fresh and high-quality. The scrambled eggs are fluffy, the bacon is crisp and flavorful, and the home fries are golden brown with a soft center. The coffee is served in the typical white ceramic mug and comes out piping hot, adding to the restaurant’s nostalgic atmosphere. Brooks emphasized that food quality and freshness are a major priority for the kitchen.

“If I don’t like the look of the food going out, I won’t even let it leave the kitchen,” Brooks said. “I will make them redo it.”

“I recommend it to everyone,” Bonson said.

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_{This story is from The Heights, an independent, nonprofit newspaper run by Boston College students with which the Newton Beacon has a partnership.}